Speak of Freedom: Understanding The Ban Of The Truth

June 24, 2010 in Speak of Freedom

I was going to write about Stanley McChrystal getting the boot for letting Rolling Stone turn their story of him into the new age Woodward & Bernstein (or of him trying to keep it real but having it go wrong) but then I realized how much of a direct correlation it made to issues going on at home.

Back in April of this year, I wrote why my hometown Hip-Hop/R&B radio station KBXX 97.9 The Boxx was basically holding its own community hostage over a dispute with rapper Trae. This was not one of those instances where both sides involved had a reason to be bitter and upset at one another. Instead, it is one party (the station) forcing the hand of its employees over another employee simply being called “fat” on a mixtape by a rapper.

Yes, the folks at the Boxx have skin thinner than a piece of felt.

There are similarities between McChrystal’s comments and what has occurred so far at the Boxx. Gen. McChrystal has to go through a chain of command to say whatever is on his mind. He cannot seemingly spurt his feelings out because one, the government upholds its officials to not only be politically correct but to also to support its leaders. Once a general or official stops serving, he is able to say whatever may possibly be on his mind. With the Boxx on the other hand, we’re talking about an invisible chain of command that has held serve just as much – albeit for much different reasons (see firing the KrackerNuttz, suspending DJs and cutting shows down all because of a slight on a mixtape). It wasn’t as if Trae specifically went after the Boxx, he only versed his displeasure with how a situation (the Trae Day event of 2009) was taken.

Earlier today, the Houston Press one of the leaders in Houston’s already deeply rooted independent arts scene ran a feature story on the debacle at the Boxx and the casualties that have resulted since. The scary part about it is that few are actually stepping up to speak on it for fear of getting banned as well. These are quite possibly the same artists who would love to be played by the Boxx but have yet to get any airplay or exposure for their latest projects.

Now former Boxx employee and Houston DJ Brandi Garcia broke her silence on the matter and essentially confirmed what many who have paid close attention to this issue knew. I’ll let her words speak for her as the emphasis on “Can’t Ban The Truth” had me beaming.

Why more people aren’t vocally expressing their displeasure with these actions baffles me. In one hand, it shows the power of one radio station and how much weight they can hold in an area where you grew up and started doing the promotional work for your own career. Looking into that other hand shows how vindictive a company can be standing up for an issue that had nothing to do with the artist in question. Nnete firmly believed that Trae’s music which is a mix of both lavishness and reality was a direct cause of what occurred last July.

Fact is, an isolated incident blew up out of proportion and instead of looking at all parties involved, Nnete decided to take aim at an individual for mere scapegoat purposes. This is about more than getting music played on a radio station, it’s about forcing and alienating groups of people for the downfall of an individual. Refusing to allow a concert for Haiti relief until Trae’s name was removed from the proceedings should tell you that.

There’s the hypocrisy. On many days when it comes to various celebrities and folks in entertainment, Nnete is very vocal. In fact the entire morning show can roast any one at any given time. But when a rapper decides to take action on a mixtape, the Boxx is quick to cry foul? As a voice in radio, aren’t you supposed to do battle with your voice and not behind the actions of a station director?

I may not completely know how big of a voice I have, for all I know it’s probably a blip compared to the one 97.9 happens to have but I am still steadfast in refusing to listen to the Boxx and hope others join me until something occurs for them to not only admit their wrongs and shady practices but public apologies and restitution to Trae is given.

Truthfully, I don’t think it will be a big enough issue in Houston until the man who basically built 97.9 the Boxx, morning show host Madd Hatta either speaks on the issue or is let go himself for supporting the movement. I doubt he will though, for as much as he champions good music and human rights, he has certainly been silent on this matter of human nature.